I have been fishing the same 3 reservoirs for about a year now in northern NJ they're a perfect size for my boat and holds nice smallmouth. I do well enough to keep me coming back but cant get the high valume of fish I can pull at smaller grassy LMB lakes and ponds that I have been fishing for years. I love these reservoirs for the smallmouth and sheer beauty that my other fishing holes lack but  2-3 fish a day isn't scratching the itch. I use heavy whopper plopper, 4in tubes, crankbaits, jerkbaits, and senkos primarily. I use 6-10lb trilene and stay away from swivels and snaps as much as I can. I'm not sure if it's the reservior or the smallmouth or maybe even both that I'm having a hard time figuring out. I would love to hear from anyone who fishes smallmouth or similar conditions.

I have an electric tournament this weekend on a rocky res that is primarily smallmouth. I was practicing last weekend and caught them on a 110 whooper plopper in the morning. Once the sun rose I was catching them on a ned rig on isolated rock piles in the open water or a 110 jerkbait trolling all the rip rap. I had some success on a drop shot and swim jig as well.

Rocks in Kerr (Buggs Island).

 

Use a jig and pig crawfish imitation.

 

Get ready to lose some baits, too.

Smallmouth are a different fish then LMB. First and foremost smallmouth are more aggressive and roam around more the LMB that tend to be more cover orientated if cover is availble.

Think brighter colors with higher contrast and smaller profile lures unless the smallies are 4 lbs+. 3"-4" long jerk baits, 3" tubes, 4 1/2-6" worms and Senkos on drop shot or slip shot rigs, 1/4-3/8 oz jigs with 3" trailers. Smaller size crankbaits like Zoner Hunter or square bills that run 3'- 8' are smallie killers!

Work along visual water color changes /break lines lighter to darker water, not stained but deeper water or darker colored rocks or weed beds. 

Smallmouth feed on crawdads more then baitfish, look for both.

Tom

PS, get off the bank.

Try to incorporate the drop shot to your arsenal. 

Thanks for the fast replies guys very helpful! I've been fishing them the way I fish for largemouth. I do tend to look for cover and hug the bank to an extent. I plan on fishing Clinton res in west Milford this Sunday(weather permiting). Hopefully I'll have more success